The Knowing: A Bulwark Anthology

 The Knowing: A Bulwark Anthology (Book 1 in a series) by Brit Lunden   104 pages

Not too long ago, I reviewed Brit Lunden’s “Bulwark.” I had believed it to be the first in a series, but I was wrong.  “Bulwark” is the jumping off place for a series of paranormal novellas written by different authors, totaling nine at this moment in time. Each author writes about a different character from the rural town of Bulwark, Georgia.

Lunden, the original author, goes back to the original story with her choice of characters: JB Stratton.  JB is now seventy years old. The love of his life, his wife Ellie, has been gone for more than twenty years. He lives alone, outside town, with his memories.

One night he rescues a couple from an accident nearby, bringing them to his cabin as they wait for the Sheriff Clay Finnes to arrive and sort it all out. While they are waiting, the rescued female sees a picture of Ellie and begins to accuse her of being a witch and abducting her children. But that’s not possible since she has been gone so long.

The story shifts to fifty-two years ago when JB and Ellie meet in high school. She is newly arrived from up North and has the cutest Northern accent. JB is smitten, but things don’t look too good for them to become a couple. Her family is wealthy; his is dirt poor.

Then the story makes another shift. This time back to the Civil War and, I believe, a small battle that was fought near Bulwark, during which the couple meet. I felt that episode needed to be fleshed out a bit, but it proved the point of “knowing.”

The story goes on to tell JB and Ellie’s high school romance, his dreams of going to college (with an appearance by legendary football coach Bear Bryant), and how those dreams turned out.

Like the original, “Bulwark,” the story moved along at a quick pace, even though it wasn’t scary. It was okay and “The Knowing: A Bulwark Anthology” receives 3 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.